St Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Church - Holiday Florida

Image: Saint Cajetan \ sculptor: Pedro Alonso de los Ríos

---

Saint of the Day for August 7

(October 1, 1480 - August 7, 1547)

Click here to listen

---

Saint Cajetan's Story

Like most of us, Cajetan seemed headed for an “ordinary” life—first as a lawyer, then as a priest engaged in the work of the Roman Curia.

His life took a characteristic turn when he joined the Oratory of Divine Love in Rome, a group devoted to piety and charity, shortly after his ordination at 36. When he was 42 he founded a hospital for incurables at Venice. At Vicenza, he joined a “disreputable” religious community that consisted only of men of the lowest stations of life—and was roundly censured by his friends, who thought his action was a reflection on his family. He sought out the sick and poor of the town and served them.

The greatest need of the time was the reformation of a Church that was “sick in head and members.” Cajetan and three friends decided that the best road to reformation lay in reviving the spirit and zeal of the clergy. Together they founded a congregation known as the Theatines—from Teate [Chieti] where their first superior-bishop had his see. One of the friends later became Pope Paul IV.

They managed to escape to Venice after their house in Rome was wrecked when Emperor Charles V’s troops sacked Rome in 1527. The Theatines were outstanding among the Catholic reform movements that took shape before the Protestant Reformation. Cajetan founded a monte de pieta—“mountain or fund of piety”—in Naples, one of many charitable, nonprofit credit organizations that lent money on the security of pawned objects. The purpose was to help the poor and protect them against usurers. Cajetan’s little organization ultimately became the Bank of Naples, with great changes in policy.

---

Reflection

If Vatican II had been summarily stopped after its first session in 1962, many Catholics would have felt that a great blow had been dealt to the growth of the Church. Cajetan had the same feeling about the Council of Trent, held from 1545 to 1563. But as he said, God is the same in Naples as in Venice, with or without Trent or Vatican II. We open ourselves to God’s power in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, and God’s will is done. God’s standards of success differ from ours.

---

hbspt.cta.load(465210, '596b3ef6-ab63-42a9-85cc-10f167817c1b', {"region":"na1"});

---

Reading 1: Wisdom 18:6-9, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33:12, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33:18-22, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33:1, Gospel: Luke 12:32-48, Reading 2: Hebrews 11:1-2, Reading 2: Hebrews 11:8-19

O Holy Ghost, divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my heart and my will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always obedient to Thy heavenly inspirations and the teachings of the holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may my whole life be a faithful following of the life and virtues of Our ...

Reading 1: Daniel 7:13-14, Reading 1: Daniel 7:9-10, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 97:9, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 97:1-2, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 97:5-6, Gospel: Luke 9:28-36, Reading 2: 2 Peter 1:16-19

The Holy Rosary is one of three Sacramentals that the Blessed Virgin Mary has given to the Holy Catholic Church. In the thirteenth century, Mary gave the Rosary as a powerful weapon to mankind to combat the evils that were in this world as a result of the spiritual battle that is taking place between Satan and God. Since then, the blessings received through this Sacramental are beyond man's count. STEP 1: Make the sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of ...

O almighty and most merciful God, I give You thanks with all the powers of my soul for this and all other mercies, graces, and blessings bestowed on me, and prostrating myself at Your sacred feet, I offer myself to be henceforth forever Yours. Let nothing in life or death ever separate me from You! I renounce with my whole soul all my treasons against You, and all the abominations and sins of my past life. I renew my promises made in Baptism, and from this moment I dedicate myself eternally to ...

Reading 1: Nahum 2:3, Reading 1: Nahum 3:1-3, Reading 1: Nahum 2:1, Reading 1: Nahum 3:6-7, Responsorial Psalm: Deuteronomy 32:39, Responsorial Psalm: Deuteronomy 32:41, Responsorial Psalm: Deuteronomy 32:35-36, Gospel: Matthew 16:24-28

Reading 1: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51:12-15, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51:18-19, Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23

O Christ, our Morning Star, Splendour of Light Eternal, shining with the glory of the rainbow, come and waken us from the greyness of our apathy, and renew in us your gift of hope. Amen.

Reading 1: Jeremiah 31:1-7, Responsorial Psalm: Jeremiah 31:10-13, Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28